About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
All Content © 2026 VanderbiltCupRaces.com
Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
Website by Eric Miller Design
Site maintained by Hop Studios
Recent Comments
Great work guys! Brings back memories! You did some nice clean up work too! I love the spots you dug out. Excellent work.
Your spot #1 pic - looking over shelf - that is usually much more visible LIMP there - you can blame the fall leaves for hiding it but that is a cool spot.
In between your points #2 and #3—before you go over Bagatelle Rd - if you go down and dig at any point you will find the LIMP in tact, we dug randomly throughout and it was always right under us. Hidden history. Awesome. The entire road is under you the whole time.
Nice posts finds. We didn’t find those. Must have been too busy getting poison ivy!
In between points 5 and 6 did you find that location that was speculated about? Could have been a drain run off? There was a lot of LIMP debris in one location there and we had good back and forth about what it was.might be, I’m wondering if you saw it yourself now?
And you started too far north! Should have started down by the VFW and witnessed the bridge remnants and the pavement behind the VFW and then proceed through the farmland. Next time!
From Updated: Femenias Findings- Exploring the Rustic Bagatelle Section of the Long Island Motor Parkway
I’ve explored all of this really nice segment. Sadly most of it is not public or LIPA owned here and subject to development. Some just south of the school already is owned by private homes although I was able to sneak through the yards back around 2000 or so. The town of Huntington tried to get a trail easement on the LI Motor Parkway segment owned by Madonna Heights but they totally rejected any attempts to restrict future development of the old roadbed. Which is sad since the banked downhill curve in there is awesome!
From Updated: Femenias Findings- Exploring the Rustic Bagatelle Section of the Long Island Motor Parkway
As a member of the Studebaker Drivers Club LI chapter, I had heard that a Studebaker was “disguised” as a Tucker, for, I think, I shot of a car rolling over. Just wondering if anyone else ever heard that info. Bob Andreocci
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Howard Kroplick
Bob, you are correct! Three cars were used to film the crash scene, a “before” version, with a fiberglass body, the car used to do the actual rollover was a Studebaker modified to look like a Tucker.
From Searching for the 22 Stars of Francis Ford Coppola's 1988 Film-Tucker: The Man and His Dream
Good one, Sam III !
From The Last Race: Film documents the beauty & intensity of racing at the last track on Long Island
Here to say this is William Kissam Vanderbilt 1, father to William Kissam Vanderbilt 2.
From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: Mid-Week Pictorial Announces the Death of William K. Vanderbilt in 1920
The hair may have given it away. This could be William Kissam Vanderbilt II, a.k.a. Willie K, in his fifties, around 1940s. Guessing the portrait was used to display the founding member of a university
From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: Mid-Week Pictorial Announces the Death of William K. Vanderbilt in 1920
Mystery Foto #46… The person in the rendering is none other than William K Vanderbilt II. He, of course, was the founder of the Vanderbilt Cup races as well as the builder the L.I. Motor Parkway.
Not sure when and why this pic was published in the “Mid-Week Pictorial”. My research turned up nothing. I will guess it was at the time of his death in January 1944.
From Mystery Foto #46 Solved: Mid-Week Pictorial Announces the Death of William K. Vanderbilt in 1920
Freeport closed in the late ‘80s (when?) and the “Bridge” closed in 1998. I remember midgets racing at Cedarhurst Stadium (now Lawrence High School); that’s where Bill Schindler quite literally lost his head - my Mom saw that horror. Brian - how’d you ever get a racing license that young? Sam, III
From The Last Race: Film documents the beauty & intensity of racing at the last track on Long Island
That last looks like the Main Line in Mineola; the Oyster Bay Branch bridge, between Albertson north of the LIMP RoW and Williston Park to the south west of the tracks and Roslyn to the east, is in a cut. It’s probably facing east, towards Carle Place and Westbury, or you’d see the Mineola Junction appurtenances (Mineola Road bridge, station, village, etc.). Sam, III
From Updated: Clinton Robertson Photo Album: Central Park Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage
To hell with all those Tuckers - love !hat ‘46-48 Ford woodie! Seriously, though, what’s the black rectangle off-center in front of the Tucker ‘way back at the curb? Sam, III
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Howard Kroplick
My best guess is that it is a road sign.
From Searching for the 22 Stars of Francis Ford Coppola's 1988 Film-Tucker: The Man and His Dream
well, he may not have been a car of steel but my fellow musician, now deceased, was in the courtroom scene in Tucker. His name was Rudy Cipolla(1900-2000) and he taught and inspired mandolinist David Grisman. Cipolla is a celebrity in the world of mandolins!
From Searching for the 22 Stars of Francis Ford Coppola's 1988 Film-Tucker: The Man and His Dream
Update: Added photo of four-year old Brian McCarthy at Riverhead Raceway.
From The Last Race: Film documents the beauty & intensity of racing at the last track on Long Island
I look forward for your rare photos—keep up the good work.
From Updated: Clinton Robertson Photo Album: Central Park Avenue/LIRR Motor Parkway Bridge in Bethpage
I just saw the blog on my article. I also included a history of the LIMP and another article on Charles Henry Davis (feature story) along with color photos of virtually all of the known surviving #25 plates and a census. Do you have a copy? If not, would you like one?
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Howard Kroplick
Gus, great job on the articles! Please send me a copy of the Davis article (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 33 Wren Drive, Roslyn ,NY 11576). Thanks!
Also, I am still looking for original Tucker license plates!
From Plates Magazine: Long Island Motor Parkway Plates
Howard,
Jeff Bridges was a member of the International Association of Panoramic Photographers. He had a Widelux swing lens panoramic camera and took photos on the sets of the movies he was in. He would then have books made of the photos and give them to people involved with the films.
Do you know if he did this for the Tucker film? If so, have you come across any of these photos?
Regards,
Bob L
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Howard Kroplick
Bob, Jeff Bridges did take photos on the Tucker set:
https://www.usatoday.com/media/cinematic/gallery/1074957002/jeff-bridges-exclusive-photos-from-the-set-of-tucker-30-years-ago/
From Mystery Foto #45 Solved: Jeff Bridges and Members of the Tucker Automobile Club in 1987
True historian’s devotion to detail shows in this project. Good job. my recollection of the movie was there was one scene wih more than 26 vehicles but gotta see that entertaing picture again….
From Searching for the 22 Stars of Francis Ford Coppola's 1988 Film-Tucker: The Man and His Dream
Michael:
Congratulations on a beautiful film. I actually felt at times that I was behind the wheel on the Riverhead track! Marty Himes was fantastic!
I enjoyed the Last Race!
Howard
From The Last Race: Film documents the beauty & intensity of racing at the last track on Long Island
Saw the film, GREAT, better than being at the raceway trackside!
From The Last Race: Film documents the beauty & intensity of racing at the last track on Long Island
I’ve been here a handful of times and will definitely watch this on cable.
From The Last Race: Film documents the beauty & intensity of racing at the last track on Long Island
I want to thank Howard Kroplick for both his support of Long Island racing history and The Last Race. I was raised in Bellmore and spent many nights with my family watching racers like Marty Himes battle on the track at the Freeport Stadium. Sadly, that track and all other well bulldozed over years ago, except for the Riverhead Raceway.
I spent five years of my life and most of my savings making this film with the hope the Riverhead Raceway with endure for many more years.
Enjoy The Last Race!
- Michael Dweck, Director and Producer
From The Last Race: Film documents the beauty & intensity of racing at the last track on Long Island
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